Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning



July 12, 1938. a. w. LINDLEY ELASTIC YARN FEEDING AND TENSIONING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 19, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l .N @NE July 12, 1938. 2,123,174 ELASTIC YARN FEEDING AND 'I'ENSIONING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES I G. w. LINDLEY Filed Oct. 19, 1936 Sheets sheet g ITNESSES: 2i (6'? 6 INVENTORV [jaorge WLzmZZey,

ATTORNEYS.

2,123,174 ELASTIC YARN FEEDING AND TENSIONING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES July 12, 1938.

e. w. LINDLEY Filed Oct. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. eorge WLZmZZay,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELASTIC YARN FEEDING ANDTENSIONING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES George W. Hndley, Philadelphia, Pa.

. Application October 19, 1936, Serial No. 106,392

1'1 Claims. (Cl. 66-132) This invention relates to mechanism for tensioning elastic yarn incident to feeding it to the needles of a knitting machine. larly, my invention is concerned with elastic yarn tensioning mechanism for circular knitting machines used in the production of shaped or fashioned seamless tubular work.

Elastic yarns, including both those wholly of rubber alone and those with rubber cores and a textile wrapping, have a tendency to curl, twist, and snag, and are therefore diflicult to control incident to being fed to the needles of a knitting machine, this being especially true of elastic yarns of the finer gauges.

My invention is directed toward overcoming the above indicated difllculties: that is to say, I aim to make it possible to deliver elastic yarn to the needles of a knitting machine at any desired predeterminable tension which may be constant, or

which may be variable 'within prescribed limits in order to shape or fashion the work being produced in the machine.

The foregoing desiderata I attain in practice as hereinafter more fully disclosed, through provision of tensioning mechanism with means whereby snags or other irregularities are eliminated therefrom incident to its being withdrawn from a loose supply coil or skein; and with a plurality of separately-adjustable, automaticallyregulated devices whereby the yarn is progressively tensioned enroute to the needles of the knitting machine. 7

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the. attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows a top plan view of a circular knitting machine embodying my improved elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows II-II in Fig. I and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 111 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows IIIIII in Fig. II with portions broken out to better illustrate important features 5 ofconstruction; and

Fig. IV is a fragmentary detail view corresponding to Fig. III with certain of the parts differently positioned. l;

The knitting machine which I have chosen for 50 convenience of illustrating my invention is of the rotary type designed for producing seamless ribbed work, the same having a rotating cylinder I, and a co-axially-superposed dial (not shown) respectively for the cylinder and dial needles 2 55 and l which cooperate at right angles in a well More particuknown manner. A non-elastic main or foundation yarn Y of cotton, rayon, silk, or other textile fiber is fed to the knitting needles 2, 3 through a guide 4 which is adjustably secured to the dial cam plate 5; while an elastic yarn Y is at the 5 same time directed to the needles by a guide 6, so as to be inlaid between the loops respectively ,drawn by said cylinder and dial needles. As

shown, the guide 6 for the elastic yarn Y is supported by a stud or post i upstanding from 10 the cylinder needle cam block 8 which latter is mounted on .the top of the bed plate 9 of the knitting machine.

The feeding and tensioning mechanism with which the present invention is more especially l5 concerned comprises a tensioning means comprehensively designated by the numeral IS in Fig. I, and automatic control means therefor generally designated by the numeral IS in said figure. As shown in Figs. II and III, the tensioning means 20 I5 includes a snag-removing device which consists of a pair of opposing disks ii; an intermediate tensioning device consisting of a vertically-positioned rotary disk I8 and a cooperating peripherally-grooved roller i9 running in pres- 25 sure contact therewith; and a second or'final tensioning device consisting of a horizontallypositioned disk 20 and a peripherally-grooved contact roller 2| which respectively are exact duplicates of the disk and roller of the inter- 30 mediate tensioning device aforesaid. The horizontal disk 20 is afllxed to the top end of a vertical shaft 22 journaled in a bearing boss 23 of a bracket 25, which latter is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the edge of the bed plate 9 of 35 the knitting machine and constitutes the main support for the tensioning means IS. A bevel gear 26 at the lower end of the shaft 22 meshes with a bevel pinion 21 at the outer end of-a radially-arranged shaft 28, driven through a bevel 40 gear 29 (Fig. I) at its inner end, from the toothed ring 8' at the bottom of the needle cylinder i of the knitting machine. Immediately adjacent the bevel pinion 21, the radial shaft 28 is journaled in a bearing boss 30 of the bracket 25; ,and adjacent the gear wheel 29, said shaft is journaled in a fixed bearing 3| beneath the bed plate 9. The roller 2i cooperating with the horizontal disk 20 is supported by a carriage or follower which is shiftable radially of said disk by a reverselyrotatable horizontal screw spindle 23 having journal support in spaced bearing standards 35 on the bracket 25, said spindle being provided at one end with a hand wheel '34 by means of which it can be manually rotated. The follower 22 comprises a nut block component 36 with which the screw spindle 33 directly engages; and a yoke component 31 which is vertically slidable on the block, and which, at its lower end, carries the axis pin 38 for the roller 2|. The nut block 36 is restrained against rotation with the screw spindle 33 by virtue; of its engagement with a guide rod 39 whiclhxt'nds between the bearing standards 35 above and in parallel relation with said spindle. A helical spring 40 bearing downward on the top of the yoke 31 serves to maintain the roller 2| in firm but yielding contact with the drive disk 20, said spring surrounding a vertical stem 4| upstanding from the yoke 31 and being regulatable bya thumb nut 42 engaging screw threads at the top end of said stem. By means of guides 43 at opposite sides of the yoke member 31, the elastic yarn Y is held to the peripheral groove of'the'roller 2| as it passes between the latter and the drive disk 20 as shown in Fig. III. By means of a cam lever 45 pivoted at 46 on the yoke component 31 of the follower 32 and adapted to cooperate with the top of the nut block 36, the roller 2| can be lifted clear of the disk 20 to facilitate threading of the elastic yarn Y. The roller l9 cooperating with the vertical disk |8 revolves freely about an axis pin 41 guided at the free, clevised end of a lever 48 which is fulcrumed at 49 to the outer end of a curved supporting bracket arm 50. This bracket arm 58, it will be noted from Fig. III, extends horizontally outward and downward from the follower 32, and, as shown, is formed with a split anchorage collar 5| which embraces a lateral boss 52 on the block component 36 of the follower 32, and which is securable by a clamp screw 53. Due to this construction, the supporting arm 50 can be adjusted along the boss 52 of the follower 32 and the roller |9 thereby set at a different distance from the center of the disk l8 as compared with the positioning of the roller 2| relative to the axis of the disk 28. A spline 55 serves to prevent rotation of the bracket arm 50 about the boss 52 on the follower 32 while the above adjustment is being made. The roller I9 is held in running contact with its driving disk l8 by a helical compression spring 56 whereof the lower end bears against the clevised shoulder of the lever 48, and whereof the upper end abuts against a collar 51 on an adjusting screw 58 which threadedly engages a lug projection 59 on the bracket arm 50. The lever 48 can be locked in the retracted position shown in Fig. IV with the roller l8 clear of the disk |8 for convenience in threading the elastic yarn Y, by a manuallyoperable latch or' keeper 6!) which is pivoted at 6| on the bracket arm 50. A guide 62 on the lever 48 is relied upon to direct the elastic yarn Y into the peripheral groove of the roller l9. After rounding the roller I9, the elastic yarn Y passes upward to a directional guide 63 on the bracket arm 50, and from thence horizontally to the roller 2| as shown in Fig. III. From Fig. I, it will be noted that the shaft 65 for the vertical disk |8 lies in the same radial plane (considered in respect to the axis of the needle cylinder of the machine) with the shaft 2 of the disk 26, and is journaled in a horizontal boss 66 of the bracket 25 as shown in Fig. II. The disk I8 is rotated in synchronism with the disk 28 by drive connections which include a pair of intermeshing spur gears 61, 68 whereof the latter is mounted on one end of a short shaft 69 aligned with the radial shaft 26 hereinbefore referred to; and a bevel pinion 10 on the other end of said short shaft which receives its motion from the bevel gear 26. As further shown in Fig. III, the short shaft 68 is journaled in another bearing boss 1| on the bracket 25. Overthrow of the screw spindle 33 incident to intermediate actuation as hereinafter explained, is prevented by a brake 12 (Fig. II) which bears upon the outer face of a bevel gear 13 on said spindle. As shown, the brake 12 is subject to a regulatable spring 15. The snageliminating disks I1 are axially and trqtatively free on a stud 16 at the end of an outward extension 11 of the bracket arm 50, and subject to the pressure of a spring 18 which is regulatable by means of an adjusting nut 19 engaging screw threads on said stem.

For the purpose of indicating the degree of tension induced in the elastic yarn Y there is affixed to the bearing standards 35 of the bracket 25 a graduated scale which is for coordination with a pointer 8| on the follower 32.

The illustrated means l6 for automatically controlling the tensioning means I5 is exactly like that disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 4,725,150 granted me on Aug. 20, 1929, to which reference may be had for details. As shown in Fig. I, the bevel gear 13 on the screw spindle 33 meshes with the bevel gear 82 of the control means I6, the latter shaft being intermittently .rotated in opposite directions under governance of the pattern chain shown at 83, through racking of ratchet wheels 84 and 85 with oppositely directed teeth the same manner as described in the patent supra.

In the use of my invention, the bracket arm 58 is ordinarily adjusted on the boss 52 of the carriage 32 so that the roller I9 is positioned some: what farther away from the axis of its driving disk l8 than the roller 2| from the center of its driving disk 20. As a consequence of such adjustment, the roller l9 will operate to feed the elastic yarn Y at a correspondingly faster rate than the roller 2|, whereof the speedis such as to induce in that portion of the yarn extending from the latter roller to the needles of the machine a higher tension than that induced on the portion of said yarn between the rollers |9 and 2|. Thus it will be seen that the elastic yarn Y is progressively tensioned as it is delivered .to the needles of the knitting machine. In practice, the supply of the elastic yarn Y is taken from a supply in the form of a free loose coil placed horizontally in a suitable basketor other container so as to be substantially free of tension. As each convolution of the coil is released, twisting action is set up with attendant formation of snarls in the yarn which are removed as the latter passes between the opposing spring-influenced disks l1. In the absence of the roller IS, the yarn would be delivered to the roller 2| at a varying rate due to the slack occasioned as each snag loop is opened. However, since the roller |9 runs at a slightly faster rate than the roller 2 this slack is compensated for with the result that the yarn Y' is delivered to the last mentioned roller at a uniform rate with assurance of feeding of said yarn to the needles of the knitting machine under a constant tension.

Obviously, the number of disk and roller ten-- sioning devices may be increased if a more gradual progressive tensioning of the elastic yarn is desired. Furthermore, while I have herein shown and described my invention in association with a rib knitting machine, it is to be understood that it is not necessarily limited to such use since it can be employed, with attainment of advantagesequal in all respects to those hereinbefore pointed out, with 1 other 'types of knitting machines to feed tensioned elastic yarn either alone or in conjunction with other yarns.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed,

and means whereby the rollers can be shifted radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

2. 'Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which theyarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; means whereby the rollers can be set at different distances from the centers of the drive disks for progressive tensioning of the yarn;- and means whereby the rollers can be concurrently shifted radially of the disks to vary the tension and rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.-

3. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; and reversely-rotatable screw means whereby the rollers can -be concurrently shifted radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarns as the knitting proceeds.

4. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plu rality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; a common support for the several rollers; and reversely-rotatable screw-means whereby the support can be moved to concurrently shift the rollers radially of the. drive disks for the purpose. of varying the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

6. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising two tensioning devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles; each such device consisting of a rotating disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is-passed; a carriage for one of the rollers; a support for the other of said rollers adjustable on said carriage so that the latter'can be set at a different distan'ce from the center of its drive disk with relation to the position of the first roller to its drive disk for progressive tensioning of the yarn; and means whereby the carriage can be moved to concurrently shift the rollers radially of their drivedisks for the purpose of varying the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

7. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising two tensioning devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a rotating disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; a carriage for one of the rollers; a support for the other of said rollers adjustable on said carriage so that the latter can be set at a different distance from the center of its drive disk with relation to the position of the first roller to its drive disk for progressive tensioning of the yarn; and a reversely-rotatable screw ,spindle whereby the carriage can be moved to concurrently shift the rollers radially of their drive disks for the purpose of varying the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

8. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a pinrality of duplicate serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a rotating disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; means for synchronously. driving the several disks; and means whereby the rollers can be shifted radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

9. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of duplicate serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a rotating disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; means for synchronously. driving the several disks; means whereby the rollers can beset at different distances from the centers of the disks for progressive tensioning of the yarn; and means whereby the rollers can be concurrently shifted radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

10. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising means for eliminating snags and snarls incident to drawing the yarn from a loose supply; a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is thereafter tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contactingroller between which the yarn is passed; and means whereby the rollers can be shifted radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

, 11. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each'such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; and automatic means for shifting the rollers radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

12. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; means whereby the rollers can be set at different distances from the centers of the drive disks for progressive tensloning of the yarn; and automatic means for concurrently shifting the rollers radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarns as the knitting proceeds.

13. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; reversely rotatable screw means for shifting the rollers radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarns as the knitting proceeds; and automatic means for controlling said screw means.

14. Elastic yarn feeding and tensioning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a drive disk and acontacting roller between which the arn is passed; means whereby the rollers can be set at different distances from the centers of the drive disks for progressive tensloning of the yams; screw means for shifting the rollers radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarns as the knitting proceeds; and automatic means for controlling said screw means.

15. Elastic yarn feeding and tensloning mechanism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of duplicate serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a rotating disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; means for synchronously driving the several disks; and automatic means for shifting the rollers radially of the disks to vary the tension and the feeding rate of the yarn as the knitting proceeds.

16. Elastic yarn feeding and tensloning mech-, anism for knitting machines comprising a plurality of duplicate serially-arranged devices by which the yarn is tensioned enroute to the knitting needles, each such device consisting of a rotating disk and a contacting roller between which the yarn is passed; means for synchronously driving the several disks; means whereby the rollers can be set at different distances from the centers of the disks for progressive tensioning of the yarn; and automatic means for concurrently shifting the rollers radially of the disks to vary the tension and the rate of feeding of the yarns as the knitting proceeds.

17. Elastic yarn feeding and tensloning mechanism according to claim 1, including means ahead of the first of the aforesaid devices with regard to the direction of feeding for eliminating snags in the yarn.

GEORGE W. LINDLEY. 

